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Meet Sandra Lee, The Soon-To-Be First Girlfriend Of NY

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo stands on stage in the park with his girlfriend, Food Network host Sandra Lee, following his announcement that he is running for the Governor of New York on May 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Lee’s popularity is rising, with two Food Network shows, a collection of best-selling cookbooks, and a magazine. She’s even won over one of the first daughters, 13-year-old Michaela Kennedy Cuomo, who congratulated her father and his girlfriend exclusively to CBS 2.

The couple lives together in a home in Mount Kisco, New York. However, Cuomo will eventually get the keys to the governor’s mansion in Albany, raising questions over whether his girlfriend should be spending the night on the taxpayers’ dime.

State Conservative Party Chair Mike Long said he sees nothing wrong with the governor having a girlfriend.

“As long as it’s not abused, it’s not a taxpayers issue,” Long said.

And if she were to move in permanently?

“Well, that’s something he has to decide to do, and that’s something the world will judge down the road if that happens,” Long said.

The Governor’s Office of General Services sees no issue. In a statement, the office said, “The mansion is the governor’s residence.”

Some say the governor’s mansion is not like Gracie Mansion, where only the mayor’s family may live and where overnight stays are prohibited.

Thanks to a successful career, though, Sandra Lee can set her table anywhere.